Dr. Carina Girvan

Dr. Carina Girvan

Research Fellow, Education


Biography

I am an interdisciplinary researcher in technology enhanced learning, exploring the innovative use of emerging technologies in education, their alignment with pedagogic theory and the design and implementation of learning experiences using these technologies in classrooms. I am interested in the experiences of the learner, how they engage and what they learn. To date I have focused on the potential of virtual worlds and educational robotics, using constructionism and social constructivist approaches. My current research engages with artificial intelligence and augmented reality, aims to develop design thinking as a pedagogy and develops innovative ways to develop students" 21st Century skills. Prior to joining Trinity College Dublin, I was a Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University in the UK. I was editor of the British Journal of Educational Technology and British Educational Research Journal. I have given several keynote talks at international conferences, written reports for Welsh Government and the NCCA in Ireland and been an expert advisor to UNICEF and the European Commission.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

  • Carina Girvan, Timothy Savage, Virtual Worlds: A New Environment for Constructionist Learning, Computers in Human Behavior, 99, 2019, p396 - 414Journal Article, 2019, DOI , URL , TARA - Full Text
  • Byrne, J.R., Girvan, C. and Clayson, J., Constructionism moving forward, British Journal of Educational Technology, 2021Journal Article, 2021, URL
  • Girvan C., What is a virtual world? Definition and classification, Educational Technology Research and Development, 66, (5), 2018, p1087 - 1100, p1087-1100Journal Article, 2018, DOI
  • Aibhín Bray, Carina Girvan, Eilís Ní Chorcora, Students' Perceptions of Pedagogy for 21st Century Learning Instrument (S-POP-21): Concept, Validation, and Initial Results, Thinking Skills and Creativity, 2023, p20Journal Article, 2023, DOI
  • Brendan Tangney, Carina Girvan, Eilís Ní Chorcora & Aibhín Bray, Overcoming barriers to teaching 21C skills: the Bridge21 approach, Irish Educational Studies, 2023Journal Article, 2023, DOI
  • Carina Girvan, Timothy Savage, Identifying an appropriate pedagogy for virtual worlds: A Communal Constructivism case study, Computers and Education, 55, (1), 2010, p342 - 349Journal Article, 2010, DOI , TARA - Full Text
  • Carina Girvan, Timothy Savage, Ethical considerations for educational research in a virtual world, Interactive Learning Environments, 20, (3), 2012, p239 - 251Journal Article, 2012, DOI
  • Girvan C., Tangney B., Savage T., SLurtles: Supporting constructionist learning in Second Life, Computers and Education, 61, 2013, p115 - 132Journal Article, 2013, DOI , URL
  • Brendan Tangney, Aibhín Bray, Ann Devitt, Carina Girvan, Eilís Ní Chorcora, Jen Maguire Donohoe, Joanne Banks, Kevin Sullivan, Lisa Keane, Philip Byrne, Rónán Smith and Cliona Hannon, Trinity Access - Project Overview, TARA, Trinity Access, Trinity College Dublin, December, 2021Report, DOI , TARA - Full Text